Refrigeration apparatus



Jan. 15, 1935. R. L. PAGE 1,988,214

REFRIGERAT ION APPARATUS Filed April 19, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOIFEFQED L. A625.

13/1! 68B) .7 AT RNEYH Jan. 15, 1935. R. L. PAGE 1,988,214

REFRI GERAT I ON APPARATU S Filed April 19, 1933 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. Kin-W0 L. PA.

:ATNEY.

Jan. 15, 1935. l R, L, PAGE 1,988,214

REFRIGERATION APPARATUS v Filed. April 19, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR.

Patented Jan. 15, 1935 PATENT OFFICE.

1,988,214 REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Reford L. Page, Binghamton, N. Y.,assignor of thirty-three and one-third per cent to Lee E.

Herrick, Binghamton,

Application April s, 1933, Serial No. 666,852

8 Claims.

My invention relates generally to a new and improved means ofrefrigeration.

My invention is susceptible of a wide variety of applications and itwill be understood at the outset that while I have illustrated and willde-. scribe it as applied particularly to an ice cream freezer and acold storage package or cabinet, I do not wish to be limited thereto asthese are merely illustrative of the many useful applications of myinvention.

With the advent of solidified carbon dioxide on a commercial scale andat a cost which enables its general usage, it has replaced in many usesthe old form of refrigerant, namely, ice, or ice and salt. Thissolidified carbon dioxide offers many advantages over the ice and saltas a cooling or refrigerating material principally due to its extremelylow temperature and the fact that it evaporates directly as a gasleaving no residue as in the case of melted ice used either alone orwith salt. Consequently the packages or cabinets for holding materialsand maintaining them at a low temperature have been greatly simplifiedover the old form of ice and salt devices for the same urpose.

For completely satisfactory and economical use of this solidified carbondioxide, however, there has still remained a problem, have solved forthe first time. This problem grows out of the inherent qualities of thesolidified carbon dioxide itself. If this material is placed directlyagainst the materials to be refrigerated or directly against thecontainers thereof, the extremely low temperature of the refrigerantthus applied so directly tends to freeze solidly such materials. If anair space is left between the solidified carbon dioxide and thematerials to be refrigerated or the containers thereof, the result isimproved but not satisfactory particularly in cases where it isnecessary to permit the ready escape of the gases evaporated from therefrigerant in order to prevent their reaching the material to berefrigerated, Furthermore, such an air space does not long retain thelow temperature after the dissipation or evaporation of the refrigerantand consequently such an arrangement is uneconomical.

I have discovered that by placing a brine pad" between the solidifiedcarbon dioxide and the material to be refrigerated or the containerthere- .for, the above problems are. entirely solved due to the factthat the brine pad under the temperature lowering action of therefrigerant evenly and uniformly absorbs the heat from the material tobe refrigerated and retains its heat which I believe I long after thesolidified been completely dissipated absorbing properties carbondioxide has by evaporation.

By brine pad I refer to preferably a closed compartment or containerfilled with a material 5 having a very low freezing point such as brine,

alcohol or the like and which preferably entirely surrounds the materialto be refrigerated or its container and closely adiacent the outside ofwhich the solidified carbon dioxide may be placed; 10

The principal object of my invention, therefore, lies in the means andmethod of interposing between solidified carbon dioxide or similarfrozen gaseous material acting as a refrigerant, and the material to berefrigerated, a brinepa comprising a material of low freezing point andcapable of retaining its heat drawing power a substantlal length oftime.

One object of my invention lies in the provision of a receptacle whichprovides a space for a 20 material to be refrigerated and which issurrounded by a brine pad" either independent thereof or preferablyformed as an integral part of such receptacle. 1

Another object of my invention lies in the 2,5 provision of an ice creamfreezer utilizing the above described principles and in which there isprovided means for the escape of the evaporated gases from thesolidified carbon dioxide without danger of such gases beingdrawn into30 the mixing chamber.

Still another object of my invention lies in the provision of an icecream freezer embodying certain details of construction and arrangementof parts which facilitates the freezing action and 3: which isparticularly adapted for home use in that it utilizes solidified carbondioxide or the like as a refrigerant, thus eliminating messy residues asis the case with salt and ice.

Another object of my invention lies in the pro- 4' vision of a storagecabinet utilizing solidified carbon dioxide as the refrigerant and whichhas a wide variety of uses such as storing ice cream, storing articlesof food in the home, refrigerating articles for transportation and thelike. 4

Other objects and advantages in details of construction and arrangementof parts will be apparent as the description proceeds, reference nowbeing had to the figures of the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis application and l wherein like reference numerals indicate likeparts.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of an ice cream freezer embodying my invention.a

Figure 2 isa cross sectional view of the ice cream freezer, certainparts being omitted and others being broken away fc clearness ofillustration.

Figure 3 is a 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side view of a receptacle embodying my invention, certainparts being broken away for clearness.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 1illustrating the cover connection and the receptacle.

Figure 6 is a side view of the screen partition used in the ice creamfreezer.

Figure 7 is bottom plan view of the receptacle shown in Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a top plan view looking into the container or casingreceptacle and other elements being removed therefrom for clearness.

Figure 9 is a detail top view of the ice cream freezer illustrating therotating means for the receptacle.

Figure 10 is a cross sectional view illustrating a modified form of myinvention as applied to a storage cabinet.

Figure 11 is 2 top plan view thereof.

Figure 12 is a detail view illustrating the holding means for thematerials to be refrigerated in connection with the cabinet shown inFigure detail view taken on the line Figure 13 is a cross sectional viewof another modified form of container embodying my invention..

My invention will particularly to an ice first be de' 'cribed as appliedcream freezer of the home type, that is of from one to four quart sizewhich may be conveniently used in the home for making ice cream, icesand the like.

The reference character 1 refers generally to an outer casing of wood orother suitable matevenient portability. This outer container 1 ispreferably provided with double bottom and walls as indicated at 2, thespace between the same being filled with some suitable insulationmaterial 3 such as cork or the like.

Centrally disposed on the bottom of the container on the inside thereof,is a bearing lug 4 adapted to rotatably receive the rounded pivot member5 provided centrally on the underside of the container'fi within whichthe ice cream mix or other materials being frozen is placed.

Surrounding the container 6 within the box 1 and spaced slightly fromthe sides thereof is provided a guard 7 comprising preferably a wirestrips 8 whereby to reinforce the same. guard is spaced from the innerwalls 2 of the outer box and in such space the solidified carbon dioxide9 or other frozen gas refrigerant is adapted-to be placed, theperforated or mesh guard 7 preventing direct contact of such refrigerantwith the walls of the container 6.

Spaced substantially above the bottom of the outer receptacle anddisposed between the guard 7 and the inner walls 2 is a perforatedsupporting ring 10 upon which the refrigerant 9 is placed Thissupporting member 10 and of the ice cream freezer, the 1 container serveto agitate the gas and to cause it to move upwardly around the sides ofthe container 6 inside the guard 7. Thus the low tem-.

perature of this gas is utilized fully before it escapes to theatmosphere in a manner to be described.

A cover 14 is provided for the open top of the receptacle 1 and in suchthe central opening 15 through which the container 6 is removable andthrough which it may be placed in the receptacle. As shown clearly inFigure 2, there is ample space provided in this opening 15 around thesides of the container 6 for the escape of the gas evaporated from therefrigerant 9. As is well understood in the use of ice cream freezers,the material within the container 6 to be frozen is agitated and whippedduring rotation of the container. By this process a considerable amountof air is whipped into the material in the container. In order that thegas from the evaporated refrigerant 9 does not enter overlies theopening 15 in such top. Thus as the gas escapes through the opening 15it is directed outwardly away from the container by this overhangingflange 16.

The top of the'container 6 is provided with a cover 17 provided aroundits flanged edges with one or more indentations 18 (see Figure 5)conforming to similar indentations 19 in the upwardly extending topflanged portion 20 of the container whereby rotationof the top 17 willcause corresponding rotation of the container 6.

The usual means of agitation for the material tated by the usual turningmechanism conventional to most ice cream freezers. Without going intodetail, as the turning mechanism forms no part of this invention, it maybe described briefly as a cross piece 24, removably supported atopposite ends by upstanding brackets and 26 on opposite sides of the topof the receptacle 1. A

7 locking hook 27 is pivotally mounted upon the bracket 26 as a meansfor removably fastening the cross piece 24 in position. This cross pieceable opening in ing gear member derside of the strip 24 and providedwith a squared opening 33 adapted to fit over the squared. member 23 onthe cover 1'7, whereby upon rotation of the crank 30, said cover 17 andcontainer 6 are rotated. The upper end 22 of the paddle member 21 is ofirregular shape and passes through an opening of similar shape in thecross piece 24 whereby the paddle member remains stationary within thecontainer as said container is rotated around it. As before stated theparticular details of this rotating and agitating mechanism form no partof this invention and have therefore, not been illustrated nor describedexcept generally. Any desired form of rotating means may be employed.

It will be noted with particular reference to Figure 4 that the wallsand bottom of the container 6 are double, the inner wall 34 thereofbeing spaced from the outer wall 6 whereby a communicating space isprovided entirely around the side walls and bottom of the container.This space is sealed at the top by the flange 16 and there is providedin the bottom 35 an opening closed by the screw plug 36 (see Figure 7)by means of which the space between the walls and bottom of thecontainer may be filled with brine, alcohol or other suitable fluid 37having a very low freezing point. Thus there is provided in effect a padentirely surrounding the inner walls of the container 6 as well as thebottom thereof and this pad will hereafter be referred to as a brine padalthough it will be understood that the fluid therein need notnecessarily be brine but may be alcohol or other material having thepropcrty or characteristic of a low freezing point.

Thus there is provided between the ice cream mix or other material to befrozen within the container 6, and the solidified carbon dioxide orother refrigerant 9 a brine pad capable of being chilled to an extremelylow temperature without freezing by the refrigerant and which uniformlyand evenly absorbs the heat units from the material within the container6 until such material is frozen.

It will be understood that if the solidified carbon dioxide or otherlike evaporating refrigerant be used either directly in contact with orseparated by an air space only from a container without the brine pad,the evaporation of the refrigerant and its consequent loss as arefrigerant will not serve to freeze the material within the containerexcept perhaps around the edges nearest the refrigerant. By the use ofthe brine pad, however, the full refrigerating properties of thesolidified carbon dioxide is utilized to chill the intermediate material37 which does not evaporate and which retains its low temperatureuniformly for a substantial period of time and serves as an excellentheat absorption unit for the freezing process.

In this respect the brine pad of my invention functions similarly to themelted ice in an ice and salt freezer. As is well known it is themelting of the ice into water which provides the effective freezingmedium for the ice cream mix and the use of salt with the ice is toincrease the rapidity of melting and lower the freezing point of thewater resulting from such melting.

This same principle, means and method of refrigeration is, of course,applicable to other uses than an ice cream freezer. For instance, as acold storage cabinet or package, the invention is especially welladapted. An illustration of this application is shown in Figures 10 to13 inclusive. In-Figure 10, the outer receptacle la is provided withdouble walls and bottom 2a insulated by suitable material 3a such ascork. Positioned substantially centrally within the receptacle is a wiremesh guard member 711 similar to the guard '7 previously described.Provided above the bottom of the outer receptacle is a perforatedsupporting member 10a similar in all respects to the supporting member10 previously described. The solidified carbon dioxide or otherrefrigerant 9a is adapted to be placed between the imier wall 2a. andguard 7a whereby it is kept out of actual contact with the container 6a.adapted to be received through the open top of the receptacle, thecontainer 6a being supported directly upon the bottom of the receptacle.

The container 6a is provided with the inner wall 34a spaced from theouter wall and bottom to provide a brine pad the same as reviouslydescribed, fllled with brine or other suitable material 37a. A cover 17afor the receptacle 6a is provided and has a handle 38 by means of whichthe cover may be removed from the container. Secured to the cover 17a isprovided a downwardly extending spindle 39 attached to which are disksor shelf members 40 upon which may be placed articles for cold storage.

Inasmuch as there is no agitation of the materials within the containerin this type of storage cabinet, the problem of the gases evaporatedfrom the refrigerant 9a becoming mixed with the materials in thecontainer is not presented. Therefore, the flange 16a corresponding tothe flange 16 previously described is so designed as to .rest upon thecover 14a of the receptacle thereby retarding the dissipation of suchgas. Thus the gas may be utilized to a greater extent in chilling thebrine pad than in the case of the ice cream freezer.

The invention is especially adaptable for a storage cabinet for icecream after the same has been frozen or partially frozen and packed incontainers for storage or for transporation. This is illustrated clearlyin Figure 13 in which the container 6b with its inner spaced wall 34!)and the space between said walls filled with brine or like material 37bcomprises the brine pad similar to the previously described container.In this instance the inside of the container is free to be filledcompletely with the ice cream or other material to be retained under lowtemperature and a suitable cover 17b is provided therefor. This type ofcontainer may be substituted for the container 6a in Figure 10.

Naturally the size and shape of the container determines the size andshape of the outer receptacle whether it be for a stationary coldstorage cabinet or a rotatable freezer.

From the foregoing it will be clear that I have provided a means andmethod whereby solidified carbon dioxide or similar evaporatingrefrigerants may be utilized for freezing and cold storage purposes bythe interposition of a brine pad between such refrigerant and thematerial to be refrigerated Of course, changes may be made in details ofconstruction without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention. I do not limit myself, therefore, to the exact form hereinshown and describedother than by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising. an outer receptacle, acontainer therein for receiving material to be refrigerated, arefrigerant between the inner walls of said receptacle and saidcontainer, and a material between said refrigerant and said containerhaving a freezing point lower than that of water.

2. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an outer receptacle, a containertherein for receiving material to be refrigerated, a refrigerant betweenthe inner calls of said receptacle and said container, and a liquidhaving a freezing point lower than that of water between saidrefrigerant and said container.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an outer receptacle, a containertherein for receiving material to be refrigerated, a refrigerant betweenthe inner walls of said receptacle and said container, and a brine padbetween said refrigerant and said container.

4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an outer receptacle, a containertherein for receiving material to be refrigerated, a volatilerefrigerant between the inner walls of said receptacle and saidcontainer, anda brine bad surrounding the walls of said'container.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising an outer receptacle, a containertherein for receiving material to be refrigerated, a volatilerefrigerant between the inner walls of said receptacle and saidcontainer, and a brine pad surrounding the walls of said container,thespace occupied by said refrigerant having communication to theatmosphere.

6. An ice cream freezer comprising an outer receptacle, a containerrotatably mounted therein, a volatile refrigerant between the innerwalls of said receptacle and said container, a brine pad between saidcontainer and said refrigerant, and means for rotating said container.

7. An -ice cream freezer comprising an outer receptacle, a containerrotatablymounted there-- in, a volatile refrigerant between the innerwalls of said receptacle and said container, a brine pad between saidcontainer and said refrigerant, and means for rotating said container,the space occupied by said refrigerant having communication to theatmosphere.

8. An ice cream freezer comprising an outer. receptacle, a containerrotatably mounted therea volatile refrigerant between the inner walls ofsaid receptacle and said container, a brine'pad between the inner wallsof said container and said refrigerant, means for rotating saidcontainer, the space occupied by said refrigerant having communicationto the atmosphere, and means for directing the evaporated gases fromsaid refrigerant away from said container after leaving said receptacle.

REFORD L. PAGE.

